Moscow, Part Two - Saint Basils

Have you ever wondered what it would it would feel like to go to a famous place, and then actually gone?  Have you ever felt a little disappointed because it wasn't worth all of the hype?  Let me assure you, St Basil's is NOT one of those places!  I only too 700 photos this weekend - it's so difficult to choose which ones to share!

I purchased a book in English to learn more about St Basil's.  There's so much to take in that there was just no way to learn enough while we were there!  I can tell you that when Ivan the Terrible had it built he wanted it to be the most beautiful building in the world for the rest of time.  I was told had the architect's eye's  cut out to ensure that he could not build another one :-(

These are called onion shaped domes.  Before coming to Russia I thought that they were just at St Basils, but no!  They are traditional in all of Russia for the cathedrals.  

I learned at the monastery that each color is symbolic of something for the church.  I know that Blue represents Mary but I have not learned the other colors yet.  Red and white is very traditional for the wall colors in buildings here.

Have you wondered what's inside St Basil's?  Its a humbling thing to be standing inside a place that I've always dreamed of!  It was originally a gigantic church with many chapels inside.  It is no longer a working church, but a museum.  This is an example of how the entire first floor is decorated.  Stunning!

There are tons of artwork and artifacts in the museum.  These are ancient coins.  I was surprised by how small they were!  Paper thin, and much smaller than a penny, I don't know how people didn't lose their money all of the time! 

As we walked around the first floor we heard music that was very haunting sounding.  When we arrived at the first main alter there was a men's quartet singing traditional songs from the middle ages.  It was beautiful, I wish you could have experienced how the music set the mood throughout the halls!

Here's a view of the top of one of the spires.  I was asked by many students what's inside the domes, so here you go!  This was not actually brick, but lines painted perfectly to look like brick.  

The paintings on the bottom level had been restored and so were very bright colored.  Here's an example of the second level, where it has not been repainted. All of the walls were this ornately decorated!

The top of another onion shaped dome.  I couldn't even begin to guess which one was which because it twisted around so much.  I'll have to do some research when I get home.

A view of the iconostasis.  Every cathedral has this, and all of them are ornate and beautiful! 

Another dome.